As we honor Martin Luther King Jr. today, I reflect on how effectively he captured the hearts of so many and how his message came to life through his powerful presentations. He understood the gravity of each moment and capitalized on opportunities to cast a vision, remove a barrier, connect a community, and inspire a hope that resonated long after he finished speaking. His speeches echo through history, and I appreciate his intentionality in delivering his message in a way that was not only meaningful but also memorable.

Leaders should be mindful of the power of the podium and deliver messages in a style and manner that causes the intended outcome for the audience.

As part of my work in leadership, faith, and fatherhood, I have spoken on stage at least once per week for several decades. I have put in my “10,000 hours” of mastery-work, and now deliver keynote addresses designed to entertain, agitate, and inspire. I have witnessed firsthand how the delivery of the message is often equally (if not more) important than the actual message itself.

With each keynote address, my goal is simple. I want to follow the energy of the room and the promptings of the Spirit to ensure the message takes root in listeners' hearts and becomes a catalyst for change. My delivery is built on an authentic, vulnerable, and deeply connected presentation style that allows me to quickly form a sincere relationship with the audience. When I finish a keynote, it often feels more like I’ve completed an incredible journey with each person present, and that is exactly the feedback I receive.

I will never forget the emergency ending to a recent talk.

A medical technology company asked me to deliver the closing keynote for the 2026 New Year kickoff meeting for the leaders of one of their divisions. With the proper prep and an approach that was practical and prayerful, I delivered a powerful presentation and was moving into the final line, a rally cry for courage over comfort, and the encouragement to encounter others in a deeply human way that focuses on the dignity of the person more than the output of their production.

As I started my final sentence, my attention shifted to a commotion in the back of the room that I could see while almost everyone else was facing my direction. A man in the audience was choking and grabbing at his neck to give the universal sign that he needed help. I called out to him and pointed, hoping someone closer could jump into action. Immediately, one of the largest and strongest men in the room was behind this man administering the Heimlich maneuver. It was extremely frightening as he couldn’t immediately clear the airway.

An emergency call was made to 911. I was watching this amazing group of people as they sprang into action to help their friend and coworker, and now I was praying as his choking episode was continuing for far too long. I have no idea how many seconds passed, but it felt like at least a full minute before this man was safely breathing again, and the emergency calls could be cancelled.

I was literally delivering a final encouragement to love others, and make business personal, and now the message was playing out in real time.

Once his airway was cleared, the man was fine, and he thanked his coworkers. When I made it to the back of the room a few minutes later, he gave me a big hug, and I praised God for the outcome. He told me that the end of my talk was causing him to “choke up” and so he took a sip of water to hopefully fight back the tears, and that is when his airway became blocked. He joked with me that he went from choking up to actually choking and that he was deeply moved by the personal stories and the challenge I delivered.

My keynotes now come with a medical disclaimer.

All kidding aside, I wanted to share this story for two reasons.

First, I will never forget what happened at the end of that talk. It was a life moment for the entire team, and their quick action to save their friend was a beautiful punctuation to the purpose of the presentation. Praise God.

Second, too often I see leaders and speakers who have a great message but never put in the effort or the reps when it comes to the actual delivery. We should be intentional with every opportunity we have to make the world a better place, especially when we have an audience listening. I want real stories and real connections when I listen to a speaker.

If you need a keynote speaker for any upcoming events (large or small, secular or religious), reach out to Undivided Life, and a member of our team will deliver a powerful presentation that meets the needs of your audience.